Gotham Central
12:04 PM
"James, James, James," Commissioner Gillian Loeb says, clicking his tongue. "I thought we understood each other."
I'm in Loeb's office, sitting across the desk from him and trying to look over the tacky collectibles scattered on the desk.
"I understand Tork is your dog, yes? You tell him to fetch and bark, he does it."
"Tork's unit is run out of the Western District, but they operate under the MCU banner and handle major crimes, yes."
"Well, why did he ignore orders from the Deputy to move forward with charges from that gambling den raid on 123rd?"
The same gambling den where Tork arrested Councilman Dickerson's son. It made the papers last week, caused a big stir, especially with Dickerson running for reelection.
"While Tork does handle major crimes, I do allow him some autonomy. I can't watch his every move from halfway across the city. He filed papers with the District Attorney's office and had enough evidence to charge all of those involved."
"Okay, so it's your fault. Just as I thought."
Loeb clears his throat and takes a sip from the cup of water on his desk.
"I've been good to you, James, really good. I've suffered through the little independence streak you seem to have. You continue to buck authority left and right, defying your superiors. Well, no more. Thought I'd be the first to tell you that I am reassigning you."
"What? Where?!"
"To the Auto Theft unit. Major Stevenson is retiring at the end of the month, they need a new commander."
"No," I say through gritted teeth, my hands digging into the arms of the chair.
"I've worked for over a year to compile evidence against the mob, I'm so close to catching them all, the bosses included."
"No doubt Lieutenant Flass will pick up where you left off..."
"With all due respect, sir, Flass wouldn't know police work if it jumped up and bit him on the ass."
"That's it," Loeb snaps. "Get out of my office right now before I bust you back down to a foot patrol so far out in the goddamn country, you'll see the Metropolis police coming at you!"
I get up and start storming out the office when a noise makes me stop short. Loeb chuckling.
"What?" I ask, turning around.
"Hehehehe. I just...Hehe. HEHEHEHE HAHAHAHAHA!"
Loeb's whole body shakes and jiggles as he laughs, tears running down his face. He begins to cough as he laughs, his body convulsing as he pushes off his desk and falls to the floor.
"Loeb!"
I rush over to him as the laughter stops. His face contorted and frozen into a sick, twisted grin. The same kind of grin as the heroin users. I quickly reach down and feel for a pulse, only to find nothing.
"I need help!" I shout.
"Somebody call paramedics!"
******
An hour later and I'm still in Loeb's office, sitting in the corner and smoking a cigarette while Homicide takes pictures of the body.
"Jimmy," the big, burly man with bright red hair says as he walks up to him. "How ya holdin' up, boyo?" He asks in a rich Irish brogue.
Major Miles O'Hara, Homicide Commander. Born in Dublin, moved to Gotham when he was ten. He was my squad sergeant when I was bumped up to Homicide.
"It's a dead body, seen plenty of those before."
"I know, but it wasn't like he some smokehound who was gunned down in a back alley. He was the Commissioner, your boss. He died right in front of ya, lad...and the face...Truth be told, I can barely stand to look at it. Did the detectives get your statement?"
"Yeah."
O'Hara starts to walk away, but I reach out and grab his sleeve.
"Miles, do me a favor?"
"What do ya need, Jimmy?"
"Let Major Crimes take this one."
"I don't know, lad. This is bound to be big news. I need my most seasoned investigators on it."
"I worked Homicide for fifteen years."
"True, true, but you're emotionally involved. Seeing him die and all."
"He was the police commissioner. You could say every cop is emotionally involved. I have a pretty good line on who may have done it."
"I don't know..."
O'Hara stops short when his cellphone rings.
"O'Hara?....What?! Saints preserve us. Okay...bring in the second shift and start assigning them cases. Get four detectives and send them to Gotham General to find out what they all died from. Keep me updated."
O'Hara hangs up and sighs.
"Twelve bodies dropped dead. All of them cops. All of them with grins on their faces, same as Loeb."
"Still think I'm emotionally involved?"
"Now everyone is. Homicide will do most the work, but Major Crimes can work on that lead you have. You best let me know if it comes to something, Jimmy. I'm warning ya, this ain't no time to play cowboy."
I nod at O'Hara and stand up from my chair, leaving the office and getting ready to go to work.